NAMM 2025: NI free stuff

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Tomorrow (January 23) is when NAMM 2025 exhibits open. On to today’s news!

Native Instruments free stuff

I was about to blow off the Native Instruments announcements when I realized, “Wait, I can get some free stuff.”

If you shuffle through the corporate-speak — and there is plenty of it — you’ll gist that NI have partnered with other hardware manufacturers to provide integrated support (NKS compatibility). The first batch of controllers to be supported are:

  • Akai Professional: MPK Mini, MPK Mini Play, and MPK Mini Plus
  • Nektar: Impact LX Mk3
  • Novation: Launchkey Mk3 and Mk4, FLkey, and SL Mk3 controllers
  • Korg: Keystage controllers
  • M-Audio: Oxygen Series keyboards

Support will be implemented in the next Komplete Kontrol update.

From the Native Instruments press release:

Owners of NKS-ready hardware from Novation, Nektar, Korg and M-Audio will be eligible to receive Native Instrumentsā€™ flagship production bundle, Komplete 15 Select, free of charge. Creators can choose from three editions tailored to specific workflows:

  • Beats Edition: Synths and sound packs ideal for pop, hip-hop, and R&B.
  • Band Edition: Guitars, keys, and studio effects designed for songwriters and live performers.
  • Electronic Edition: Advanced synths and tools for house, techno, and trance producers.

For Akai Professional users, an MPK purchase includes Komplete 15 Select.

I haven’t blabbed about it here (yet), but I picked up a Novation Launchkey Mk4 last month. I will check this deal out.

Native Instruments is releasing exclusive content for the Akai MPC platform:

  • Five MPC Expansions: Drum kits and sample packs reformatted for Akai MPC hardware
  • Five MPC Editions: Instrument plugins based on the Play Series

You can check the titles at the NI webshop. These titles are MPC hardware-only.

Steinberg NAMM 2025 deals

Let’s throw a bone to Steinberg who are offering deals on Dorico (40%), WaveLab (40%), WaveLab Cast 2 (40%), Cubase (25%) and other products. Offers last until February 5, 2025. The NAMM sale seems like an annual thing, so catch up on updates and upgrades.

Korg, again

Korg will preview two audio interfaces: Korg microAudio 22 and and Korg microAudio 722. You’ve probably seen the pictures — each is a table-top interface in black, 2 inputs (Hi-Z, +48V phantom power), 2 outputs, 24-bit/192kHz. The 722 has a miniKORG 700S analog filter with lowpass and highpass settings, LFO, cutoff and resonance knobs.

We haven’t seen pictures of the goes-in/goes-out, but there is a MIDI light on the front panel.

Korg call these “concept prototypes” which “may or may not be destined for commercialization.” Thus, no prices.

Roland V-STAGE

Yeah, it’s out. I want to shout out demo videos by Patrice Rushen and Ed Diaz (Kraft Music). Patrice deserves more recognition — what a talent!

At some point, we gotta talk money. šŸ™

Copyright © 2025 Paul J. Drongowski